Director, Business Development

Role Overview

The Director of Business Development leads the Innovation Office’s proactive, outbound industry engagement strategy, building and maintaining executive-level relationships with corporate R&D, open innovation, corporate development, and business unit leaders at target companies.

What You Will Do

The Director will develop and execute a sector-based outbound engagement strategy, match System technologies and research capabilities to identified corporate needs, advance qualified opportunities from initial interest through structured deal discussions, and contribute to the framing, positioning, and commercial strategy of specific opportunities.

Why It Might Be a Fit

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of closing meaningful commercial agreements, a working knowledge of the technology commercialization process, and excellent interpersonal, written, and presentation skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in technical or scientific field (engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, or a related discipline), or a business degree paired with demonstrated technical depth developed through professional experience.
• Eight years of professional experience, including at least five years in industry-facing roles such as business development, corporate partnerships, technology licensing, strategic alliances, or corporate R&D leadership.
• Experience using CRM systems and structured pipeline data to manage a portfolio of relationships and opportunities.
• A demonstrated track record of closing meaningful commercial agreements through personally cultivated corporate relationships.
• Working knowledge of the technology commercialization process, including the distinction between research-stage and market-ready technologies, the basics of patents and licensing structures, and technology development cycles in at least one major industry vertical.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage credibly with both technical researchers and corporate decision-makers.
• High professional integrity and a commitment to accuracy when representing research and technologies to external partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and, when appropriate, internationally.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor
• Additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness programs to promote work/life balance